"It was on", says shark basher

[PatMyGreen]

http://www.theadvertiser.news.com.au...55E421,00.html
By Michael Madigan
13dec05

A SPEARFISHERMAN punched a shark during a melee with half a dozen of the sea predators off the far north Queensland coast on Sunday morning.

Glenn Simpson, 44, a Melbourne builder, was left with a large chunk missing from his right elbow and 30 puncture holes in his arm.

He was snorkelling while his two teenage sons were spearfishing nearby off Port Douglas about 11am from his 14m game boat The Allure when the attacks occurred.

Speaking from his hospital bed in Cairns yesterday, Mr Simpson said he had noticed shark activity in the water at St Crispins Reef but was not overly concerned. The sharks were only white-tipped reef sharks, with the biggest under about 1.5m long.

However, when his son Luke, 15, speared a coral trout, about five sharks appeared and ripped apart the fish.

The shark pack then turned on Mr Simpson and Luke.

"Within seconds, it was on. They just came from nowhere," Mr Simpson said.

"One was definitely coming at my shoulder (and) I punched (it) away. The next thing I knew I had one latched on to my arm.

Mr Simpson said his main concern was for the safety of his sons. Dylan, 13, was about 100m away fishing on another reef.

Both boys escaped injury.

The attack comes one year after Cairns man Mark Thompson, 38, died after he was bitten on the leg while spearfishing on Opal Reef.

Mr Simpson said he would probably go back fishing and did not support calls for massive shark culls.

"We did nothing different to what we have done dozens and dozens and dozens of time before," he said.

But he added that he would probably not go back spearfishing for at least this week.

A Cairns Hospital spokesman said Mr Simpson remained in a stable condition yesterday afternoon. The hospital was not sure when he would be discharged.

[TheMackDaddy]

Thats a different type of attack than i'm used to hearing, a pack of them just rushing you, like wolves.

[PatMyGreen]

White tips are crafty little bastards, and not to be underestimated it would seem. Kinda makes me happy they are about fished out in the gulf.

[TheMackDaddy]

the oceanic whitetip 13 footers are some nasty beasts

[Gorilla]

SHARK SHEILD SHOULD DO THE TRICK! What's $375.00 for the great peice of mind!
visit http://www.kfd.com.au/

[normanhghntr]

different sharks, i believe they were talking about white tip reef sharks,either way ill stay away from spearing with a pack of anything that gets excited about blood in the watER!!!

[apexpredator]

Originally Posted by PatMyGreen

Mr Simpson said he would probably go back fishing and did not support calls for massive shark culls.

"We did nothing different to what we have done dozens and dozens and dozens of time before," he said.

But he added that he would probably not go back spearfishing for at least this week.

A Cairns Hospital spokesman said Mr Simpson remained in a stable condition yesterday afternoon. The hospital was not sure when he would be discharged.

That is a good attitude about both the environment and avoiding shark paranoia...guy will probably be ready to spear before as soon as his wounds have had a chance to heal.

[Hank49]

Those white tips look kind of like nurse sharks with the whiskers. But I've seen videos of them tearing up parrot fish out of their little "tent" at night. I never heard of them attacking anyone though.

[deepdown]

I saw a few of them while spearing in Panama earlier this year, but not running in packs, and they only made a pass or two before retreating...

I've seen them hunt at night in the Cocos Islands on TV, and they are agressive and relentless buggers once they get going...

Gerald

[TheMackDaddy]

That cocos island special was inasane, most amazing UW footage i've ever seen

[PatMyGreen]

I was happy too to see the guy's attitude. Glad he has a good perspective on it.

On pack hunting, I find myself in schools of good sized cudas with some regularity and everytime I think "I am really glad these guys don't work together." How long do you think it would take just 20 smaller 30# cudas to ruin you. 3 seconds?